The Town Talk from Alexandria, Louisiana • 6

Louisiana Town Talk A-5 THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2001 ores fcj Panel rest to budget '7 TVl rji Mi--" 1 4 I Gal pay by $2,000 each. The amendments also divvied up about $85 million in a block grant expected for the state's welfare program, funding a variety of initiatives aimed at increasing opportunities for people to get education and jobs at federal expense. In defense of the plan to restore $350 million to the Department of Health and Hospitals budget, fully funding that agency, LeBlanc said state government is a three-legged stool, "If any one of the three is not adequately funded, we cannot move forward." Education can break the cycle of poverty and economic development can keep Louisiana residents here, he said. But, without adequate health care to sustain them, people cannot obtain the education or take advantage of the jobs, he said. After adopting amendments, the committee voted to send the budget to the full House for further debate.

Robert Morgan: 225-343-2445; towntalkbeflsouth.net the budget, House Bill 1, is finally passed. The committee adopted two sets of amendments: changes proposed by the administration adding $140 million and changes agreed upon by lawmakers that added another $220 million. Appropriations chairman Rep. Jerry LeBlanc, D-Lafayette, said additional funding was a result of $123.1 million in new state revenues that have been recognized by the Revenue Estimating Conference since Gov. Mike Foster unveiled his budget plan in February.

The committee targeted most of the new money for programs that draw federal matching funds to nearly triple the total that will be available for expenditure when the new fiscal year starts July 1. LeBlanc noted the big beneficiary of the budget amendments was in the area of health care, which had been targeted for cuts even as spending was being increased in education and economic development. He pointed out the budget includes approximately $140 million to increase school teachers' By Robert Morgan Gannett Capital Bureau BATON ROUGE After weeks of listening to concerns about cutbacks in services, the House Appropriations Committee adopted amendments Wednesday that added $360 million and basically restored the budget to full funding for the coming year. Although the $14 billion-plus budget for fiscal 2001-2 still contains some minor reductions, it also provides a number of increases and new budget items, such as $40,000 for the Women's Bassmaster Classic Tournament in Alexandria and $50,000 for a Redfish tournament in Bayou Segnette. Speaker Charlie DeWitt, D-Alexandria, said, "This essentially makes Rapides Parish whole." Aside from funds for the fishing tournament, which will bring international recognition to Alexandria, DeWitt said the budget includes funding for the Alexandria Zoo and added degree programs at LSUA-and restoration of funding for the sheriffs juvenile boot camp.

He said some items could still be eliminated or reduced before Associated Press Wreck near Governor's Mansion An 1 8-wheeler carrying pipe sections lays on Wednesday in Baton Rouge. One person was its side after turning over in a curve on 1-1 10 killed when pipe rolled over the retaining wall northbound in front of the Governor's Mansion and struck a car on 1-1 1 0 southbound. sarafa continues boy or ETTOBSS sag SPECIAL PURCHASE in- 13 i if 01(3) if I i (. WALL-SAVER 5 iJ Li L. LJ 1.1 RECLINER lb This offer is excluded from any coupons, discounts or special financing.

BUY ONE FREE! the hunt at daybreak Wednesday. Perkins said investigators have not ruled out foul play, but he characterized the investigation as routine. "We're looking at all possibilities, but we're not coming up with anything," he said. Havard said she did not hear any vehicles in her yard during the brief time she was inside. The boy was wearing blue shorts, a gray Mickey Mouse shirt and sandals.

West Feliciana Parish firefighters used a portable pump to empty a sewage oxidation pond near the home to make certain the youngster had not fallen into it. They also searched a creek that borders the clearing where the family lives. Sheriff Talmadge Bunch stripped off his shirt, borrowed a pair of jeans from a parish jail inmate and waded into a deep pond on the opposite side of the highway. Bunch said he felt his way along the bottom of the pond and was sure the boy was not in the water. BLUFF CREEK (AP) Authorities continued the search Wednesday for a toddler who vanished from his front yard, triggering a hunt in East Feliciana Parish woods dotted with creeks and gravel pits.

Bloodhounds, helicopters, horses and four-wheel drive vehicles all were part of the search for Wesley Dale Morgan, who turned 2 on March 14. Ruby Havard said her son was playing with four puppies when she went inside to boil some eggs for lunch about 9:45 a.m. Tuesday. When she came back out, the boy and two puppies were gone. Searchers found one puppy on the opposite side of Louisiana Highway 63 from Havard's home, farther than they would have expected a 2-year-old to wander, said Paul Perkins, chief sheriffs deputy in East Feliciana Parish.

Dozens of law enforcement officers, firefighters and volunteers searched woods southeast of Clinton and north of Blairsville. Most of them left as night fell, but some deputies kept looking through the night. More re-joined BUY GET ONE FREE! ON A SELECT GROUP OF STYLES AND COVERS AT LANE'S FACTORY AUTHORIZED PRICING FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY! Get twice the comfort for half the price! Buy one Lane Recliner, get the second one FREE! Or, bring a friend and share the savings or for Mother's Father's Day! Buv One Get A 1 i. U4JU11 i Ivan Smith Saves You Money! i f' "i Panel votes to license, regulate abortion clinics ROCKER RECLINER Full Chaise ROCKER RECLINER I Buy One Buy One tient surgical centers by creating specific regulations just for abortion clinics. Castille said similar regulations in South Carolina were upheld in court.

Christina Kucera, with Planned Parenthood of Louisiana, said the laws have been used to restrict access to abortion. She said in other states with similar laws, the number of abortion providers has decreased because clinics couldn't afford the costs associated with renovating clinic offices to comply with state standards. Only 8 percent of Louisiana's parishes have abortion providers, Kucera said. Get i'tll: i iT! Get Choice 0 (4) geUr (4) 1 LEATHER-LIKE VINYL ROCKER RECLINER ui Choice Full Chaise ROCKER RECLINER TVitA "bidden 4tm Stout ft Buy One MEDICAL ALERT! I lave you or a loved one taken one ol the following weight loss products? I "1 Buy One it Get BATON ROUGE (AP) -Abortion clinics would be licensed and regulated by the state under a bill that renewed the annual battle between supporters who claim it's a safety measure and opponents who argue it restricts abortion. The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare narrowly approved the measure 3-2 Wednesday, sending it to the full Senate for debate.

The House already approved the bill. It would require licenses for surgical abortion facilities in which five or more first-trimester abortions or any second-trimester abortions are performed. A license from the Department of Health and Hospitals would cost $600 each year. "This is not about increasing or decreasing access. It's about protecting people's health," said Sen.

Donald Hines, D-Bunkie. DHH would develop regulations and licensing standards for abortion clinics, inspect a facility before it could receive its license and make return inspection visits. Any clinic that fails to meet DHH standards could lose its license or receive fines until it fixes any problems. Sen. Diana Bajoie, D-New Orleans, said the bill would restrict abortion clinics more than some other areas of medicine.

Doctor's offices that do some other forms of surgery are exempt from regulation, she said. "I want to protect the safety of people, but at the same time I don't want to do anything to hamper people's rights," Bajoie said. "I see some bias here," she said. Charles Castille, undersecretary of DHH, said doctors who perform a large number of outpatient surgeries are registered and regulated as ambulatory surgical centers. Castille said the bill, by Rep.

Rodney Alexander, D-Quitman, would regulate abortion clinics like the surgical centers. It sidesteps a federal judge's ruling in 1999 against a law passed by the Legislature requiring abortion clinics to be subject to tie same regulation as outpa i -if ti Dexatrim Metabolife Ripped Fuel Yellow Jacket Ultimate Orange Xenadrine Herbal Phen-Fen Acutriin Natural Trim Diet Fuel Shape Fast Ultimate Punch Ibdnmrut EolaAmp II GET THIS TV RADIO FREE! COMHO Unh Tlu, K.V JT i Hlde-A-Chalse ROCKER RECLINER ih vJ to I Kill PA H. rfil 7i 111 These products are currently under investigation. Reports to the FDA and recent medical studies have linked these products to serious injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered a stroke, heart attack, seizure, andor death please call: The Law Office Of Kirby Kelly 1845 Line Avenue Shrevcport.

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